PCSN Panel Sheds Light on Service-Learning

On February 27, 2014, the Parents Community Service Network (PCSN) hosted A Panel Discussion on Service-Learning in New York City. The discussion, which was free of charge with registration, focused on successes and obstacles in implementing true, meaningful service-learning in New York City public and private schools, and parents’ roles in the process. It featured five panelists, experienced educators with extensive knowledge and leadership in service-learning, representing a cross-section of NYC schools. (See below.)

More than 50 parents, school administrators and service representatives from across the city attended the event, which took place in PCSN member-donated space at the Manhattan Church of Christ on the Upper East Side, and was moderated by Karen Weissman, Ph.D., PCSN co-founder and chair for Curriculum Support of the Community Action Committee at Corlears School.

The panel touched on many aspects of service-learning (defined as the integration of community-service activities with a school curriculum on a frequent or ongoing basis), including why children benefit from such programs, noting that service-learning experiences have been shown to have a positive affect on children’s study habits, grades, interpersonal relationships and self-confidence. Other take-aways from the Panel Discussion included information on:

How service-learning differs from general volunteerism.

The importance of establishing a public purpose for service projects.

How service-learning concepts are best introduced to children.

What types of support teachers need to run service-learning projects.

How parents can approach, and partner with, their schools to promote service-learning.

The importance of getting older kids to experience communities-in-need firsthand.

How to grow a culture of service-learning from the ground up, starting with small projects.

Bringing this information to life with real-world examples were the seasoned panelists: